Vietnam and the US have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on nuclear energy that could see US firms enter the local sector here.

US Ambassador Michael Michalak said the MOU signed Tuesday in Hanoi would help establish a countable source of nuclear fuel for Vietnam's civil nuclear reactors in the future, local newswire VnExpress reported that day.

As the two countries celebrated their 15th year of diplomatic relations this year, the signing was a significant moment in the bilateral relationship in improving shared objectives of not promoting nuclear weapons, the ambassador stressed, according to the newswire.